DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super Automatic Espresso Coffee Machine
A magnificent piece of high performance machinery, De’Longhi has packed pro-quality technology into this countertop unit for perfect, steaming hot espresso every time. Featuring a stainless steel double boiler and beans-to-brew system, you’re guaranteed an espresso that’s bold and tasty thanks to coffee freshly ground right in the machine. One-year limited warranty.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Great coffee, build quality problems
[This review applies to the Magnifica 3200, this is the same as the 3300 with slight cosmetic differences.]
I bought this machine in 2006 after an almost-endless trawl through the internet reading owners’ reviews – after all, we are talking about the search for the perfect expresso here!
The coffee quality is indeed great. The only misgivings I would have about using it are that the knobs have no user markings, which means that if there are several people in the house using the machine, it is impossible to select the previously-selected individual settings. Also, the time before the machine performs an auto-switchoff is fixed at about three hours. I couldn’t find the power comsumption in the user manual when in “idle” mode, but I think it must be substantial since it keeps the boiler/cup-preheater hot during this time. Not that the preheater is any use – I warm my cups by first wetting them and then putting them in the microwave for 30 seconds.
More seriously, I have had the machine for three years and in this time it has broken down four times – the first time after six weeks, the second time after about 18 months, the third time after about 30 months, and again most recently last week. The first two times, the machine was fixed under guarantee, without any quibbles. I think the problem is that the environment these machines have to work under is probably the most severe to be found in the home: high-pressure boiling water, grinding, and the transport of the coffee grains within the machine. Maybe the build quality of the cheaper machines is such that they cannot cope?
While waiting this last time round for it to be picked up and repaired, I decided to open it up to check its build quality (I’m an engineer). De Longhi has used thin plastic wherever possible. The coffee transfer path is not well isolated from the rest of the machine – as a result coffee powder had dropped into the moving motorised assembly at the back of the machine (I think this was the reason why the machine ultimately had failed).
Others here have commented on the machine’s coffee-making ability. I agree, it makes great coffee. It’s a pity that, in my experience at least, it was let down by poor engineering.
5 Stars So happy we returned the Jura ENA 5
My wife and I love it. I won’t rehash all the good reviews that are already here. I only want to point out a few items that make this product better than the Jura. The grinder can adjust more precise which slows down the water to give a much better cup (not bitter). The steam is much hotter, so it gives more of a coffee shop foam. It produces a hotter cup of coffee and the water tank is much larger. Finally, easier to clean.
4 Stars why can’t anyone make a better steam nozzle?
I had a Kitchenaid Pro Line espresso machine prior to my DeLonghi. I must say that I prefer this machine in every way.
Pros:
Fast warm up
Easy to clean
Pulls perfect shots every time (once you get it adjusted properly for your beans; you may need to adjust it slightly if you change beans, so the strength is what you prefer).
Cons:
The only real complaint I have is that this machine (like a lot of others) is lacking when it comes to the steamer nozzle. The steamer actually heats up pretty quickly, but it doesn’t pull out far enough from the machine to comfortably get most cups under. I would give it 5 stars if the nozzle rotated out further from the machine and you could change the angle it sticks out at.
On the whole, I think this is a great machine and would recommend it to others.
5 Stars Great machine for the price!
This machine is A-mazing! I bought it instantly at 47% off you cant go wrong. This got great ratings on www.EspressoMachineReviews2009.com as well. If you’re looking for a superautomatic, this is it!
5 Stars With Tinkering, Good Quality Shots AND Convenience
Bought this machine after heavy and satisfactory use of a Solis Palazzo over the last 4 years.
The DeLonghi Magnifica performs as advertised, providing convenience with, given sufficient patience and understanding, the prospect of also making quality drinks. The machine is a bit more complicated for a novice to use, compared to the Solis, and takes more tinkering to get a consistent drink. With that territory, though, also comes the possibility of making a better shot than I could with the Solis. I will explain.
We all pursue that shot with perfect extraction and aromatic crema delicately gracing the surface. Nothing is more fundamental. How does the DeLonghi do? For a shot of set volume, this machine gives us the typical two variables to play with: fineness of grind and quantity of grounds. I found it took a great deal of tinkering with those two settings to get the flow at that point of perfect extraction: not gushing, not dripping. Can be done, just takes patience.
Further, get the settings right for the one cup setting, push the two-cup button, and the results will be worthless. That such a button cannot be found on most comparable machines has a reason. Two shots means a thicker puck, throwing off all your careful adjustments of grind and quantity. Forget about that two-shot button, set things for a single shot and hit that button as many times as required by the lateness of your prior evening.
The settings are sensitive enough – something I have not seen in the Solis – that I find I must vary them from roast to roast. What works for a darker roast leaves a lighter roast mostly dripping out the delivery spouts. Perhaps a liability for those interested in convenience over quality. For others, another opportunity to get it right instead of settling for the lowest common denominator. Quantity of grounds wheel is conveniently located on front so such adjustments are easy to make.
Some other initial observations:
* After a half-dozen cups, my machine locked up. Blinking lights and manual told be something was binding in the grinder and to contact manufacturer. My examination showed that the chute immediately below the grinder was packed up. Bent little bristle brush and some awkward maneuvering cleared up the problem which, so far, has not reoccurred.
* Specs say bean capacity is about 7 ounces. Anticipated this being an inconvenience as I roast in 12 oz lots. The bean hopper will actually take 11 or 12 ounces with no problem.
* Buried in the instructions is the observation that, if it has been 2 or 3 minutes between brews, then one should do a quick flush, hitting the descaling button, to assure optimal water temperature. Easy to do but not something I have seen on other machines. I see this as a positive. Yes, another step but one that improves quality.
* Specs suggest this will fit under a cabinet 14 inches above the counter. True, but if you want to be able to open the bean bin and fill, 18
